best 10 songs to test speaker-amp purchase?

[listening-in97]

Hi fiends,

Am putting together a mixed CD to test out my upcoming purchases. Sizzers recommended Katie Melu. I am looking for recent songs with expectional production across all genres. Any tips? Peace out from China!

 

[Anonymous]

I like to hear stevie ray vaughan do his magic on tin pan alley.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd recommend 'Change the World' by Eric Clapton

 

[alchemist 1]

The Beatles '' Love Album'' very well produced. 🙂

 

[the record spot]

Julie Feeney's "Pages" album, any track really, but the first three are very good.

Practically anything mastered by Barry Diament (check the Steve Hoffman site for his album credits).

EDIT: And if you can get one, Deep Purple's Machine Head on SACD. Brilliant.

 

[Sospri]

I always audition with Dire Straits - Telegraph Road, over 14 mins of excellence..

 

[plastic penguin]

Batman 'Dark Knight' theme by Hans Zimmer. Mind blowing.

 

[paradiziac]

I think the most important thing is to use music that you know very well and that you can respond to emotionally. It needn't be well-produced...most systems will sound good with good recordings...more telling is what poorer recordings sound like.

I keep meaning to make a "reference CD" that will test specific areas, but I always seem to just end up listening to whatever I'm enjoying at the time. A good mix of acoustic/electric/electronic, live/studio recordings is a good idea unless you only ever listen to a particular type of music.

Currently:

Daniel Barenboim - The Warsaw Recital (piano is always a good test)

Ali Farka Toure - The River (one of my favourite artists)

Emika - Emika (amazingly deep bass, vocals, soundstage)

Slash - Slash (recorded to analogue tape, very good guitar sound!)

Slint - Tweez (early Steve Albini production from 1989, just a sound I like)

Manu Chao - Radio Bemba Sound System (live recording, good test of instrument separation)

Bob Brozman - Blues Reflex (transients etc.)

Furrther reading:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/sep08/articles/referencecd.htm

http://www.digido.com/honor-roll.html

 

[CnoEvil]

Fiend from Ireland reporting in. 😉

Hear are my suggestions:

Keb Mo............Keb Mo (Angelina)
Jason Mraz........We sing, we dance, we steal things (I'm Yours)
Women of song.....Chesky Records (Columbus)
Norah Jones.......Away with me (Come away with me)
Jaques Loussier...Plays Bach (50th Aniversary addition) - take your pick
Essential.........Yello (The Race/Drive)
Jack Johnson......Sleep through the static
Eminem............The Slim Shady Lp (My name is)
Daft Punk.........Homework (Revolution 909)
Dave Brubeck......Time Out (Take Five)
Supertramp........Somethings never change (You win, I lose)

 

[Big Aura]

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah

Melody Gardot - Worrisome Heart

Beck - Loser

Jacques Brel - La Chanson de Jacky

Nina Simone - You'll Never Walk Alone (instrumental)

Vampire Weekend - Campus

The Beatles - Hey Jude

The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army

hmmmmm....

 

[Anonymous]

Hi, my list and lots of good ones from others are on this thread which might be helpful:

http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/what-made-it-on-to-your-auditioning-list

Enjoy compiling your list, for me choosing my favourite music from different types of genre was one of the most enjoyable stages of auditioning and buying.

It was good seeing what others use to audition with but I would recommend that you listen to music you know very well and enjoy the most and then go with the amp and speakers in your price range that enable you to hear them the best you ever have.

Have fun.

 

[Anonymous]

A walk across the rooftops - the blue nile

Mrs Robinson- simon and Garfunkel

Liberty fanfare - Lowell Graham conducting the National Symphonic Winds (the bass drum is awsoem!!)